Learning that genin from all the hidden villages would be coming to Konoha for the Chūnin Exams filled Naruto with almost unbearable excitement.
A massive wave of friends is coming!
His mind raced with possibilities. People from Sunagakure, Kusagakure, Otogakure, maybe even further. All converging on Konoha. All potential friends waiting to be made.
When friends come from afar, you must greet them properly!
Just as his excitement reached its peak, Naruto noticed the expressions on Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura's faces. All three wore distinctly uncomfortable looks. He stopped his enthusiastic fist-pumping mid-motion.
"What's wrong with you guys?"
"Hehe." Kakashi's laugh was light and airy, betraying nothing. "As long as you're happy, Naruto."
Sasuke's thoughts ran in a completely different direction. Poor unfortunate souls. I can already see your bruised and swollen faces.
Actually, now that Naruto would have other people to "spar" with, Sasuke felt considerably less depressed about his own regular beatings. He'd developed a coping mechanism over the past weeks: every time Naruto beat him up, Sasuke would immediately go find Zabuza for a "friendly discussion."
The math worked out perfectly. Naruto's beatings minus Zabuza's beatings equaled zero net suffering. Balance restored, happiness achieved.
Sakura had similar thoughts about the incoming exam-takers. She could already picture those poor foreign ninjas getting pummeled by Naruto, their faces swelling like overripe melons. The mental image brought a smile to her lips.
In the next second, that smile vanished.
"I'm very confident about Naruto and Sasuke for this Chūnin Exam," Kakashi said, his tone maddeningly casual. "But you, Sakura, I'm worried you might fail. So please do your absolute best this month to prepare."
Sakura's face cycled through several shades of red. Ahhh... Kakashi-sensei, don't say such humiliating things in public! I don't want to lose face! I'll beat you up! Her inner self raged with violence, fists flying in imaginary fury.
After the initial wave of embarrassment passed, Sakura forced herself to respond seriously. "I understand, Kakashi-sensei. I'll work hard. I won't hold back Team Seven."
Hearing the determination in her oath, Kakashi nodded with approval. "Don't put too much psychological burden on yourself. Just do your best. Team Seven has always been a complete unit. We never think anyone is holding us back, because everyone contributes something. That's what makes us Team Seven."
"Kakashi-sensei..." Tears pricked at the corners of Sakura's eyes.
Kakashi continued with some additional encouragement, reminding them to train hard, stay focused, and support each other. He admitted he didn't know the specific assessment details since he wasn't an examiner, but assured them they had the foundation to succeed.
Then, with a casual wave, he dismissed them.
After Kakashi vanished in his typical Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin no Jutsu), leaving behind a few drifting leaves, Naruto turned to Sakura with sudden concern.
"Sakura, I feel like our friendship has grown distant lately. I think it's necessary to maintain it carefully." His expression was completely earnest. "So, Sakura, let's have a sparring match."
"No need!" Sakura's hands shot up in a warding gesture, waving frantically. "Naruto-kun, I think our friendship is very solid! What you're feeling is just an illusion!"
"An illusion?" Naruto's brow furrowed. "No, it's not. Just now when you greeted Sasuke, it was completely different from how you greeted me. You said, 'Sasuke-kun, you're here!' But to me, you just said, 'Naruto, you're here too.'"
He held up two fingers. "That's diffrent. I think we've drifted apart. Generally, you should say something like, 'My friend Naruto, you're here!' That shows proper respect for our friendship."
Sasuke's expression darkened. Why am I being dragged into this?
"My friend Naruto, you're here!" Sakura repeated dutifully, her voice pitched slightly too high.
"Okay, I admit that part might have been my imagination." Naruto nodded slowly, as if considering this deeply. "But I still think friendship needs maintenance. So let's spar anyway."
I'll beat you, you stinky bastard! Sakura's inner voice screamed. Don't act like you just want to maintain friendship! You clearly just want an excuse to pummel me!
"I'm sorry, Naruto!" Desperation crept into her voice. "From now on, I'll only greet you, not Sasuke! Actually, I don't even like Sasuke-kun anymore! I'll give up on him completely! You can have him! Is that okay?"
"Sakura!" Naruto's face showed genuine hurt, his voice rising with indignation. "You actually think I'm that kind of person? Someone with ulterior motives? You liking Sasuke is your business. I don't care about that at all!" He crossed his arms, his expression stern. "Right now, I just want you to prove that you take our friendship seriously."
"Okay." Sakura's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I'm sincere about our friendship."
Great. Just great. Her thoughts turned bitter. A minute ago I was imagining other villages' genin getting beaten by Naruto. Now I'm the one getting beaten.
A short while later, Naruto and Sasuke bid farewell to Sakura, whose face had swollen to roughly twice its normal size, with a colorful array of bruises blooming across her cheeks like grotesque flowers.
As they walked toward the back mountain, Naruto practically glowed with satisfaction. "Sakura really does value our friendship! I'm so happy she proved her sincerity."
Seeing Naruto's cheerful expression while remembering Sakura's pig-headed appearance, Sasuke couldn't stay silent. "Naruto, maybe don't beat up Sakura in the future."
"What?" Naruto's eyes widened, his expression shifting to one of wounded innocence. "Sasuke, you actually think of me like that? I was maintaining our friendship through friendly sparring! How can you say I was 'beating up' Sakura?"
"Fine. Let me put it another way." Sasuke's voice was flat. "I can guarantee that Sakura will never let your friendship weaken. There's no need for maintenance."
Naruto considered this for a moment, then nodded thoughtfully. "You're right. Sakura is a good friend. However..." His expression grew serious. "The closer you are to a good friend, the more you need to maintain the relationship carefully. Otherwise, you might still drift apart."
Sasuke felt something inside him shut down. I give up. The only way to reason with Naruto is to become stronger than him and use fists to make my point. That's the only language he truly understands.
Back at the farm, they separated to practice in their usual spots.
Naruto headed to his preferred training location beneath the waterfall, that treasured spot where the water's constant pressure helped him refine his Iron Body Technique.
On his way, he passed Shikamaru supervising two employees: Haku and Zabuza. Zabuza had graduated from manure collection, at least. Now he was performing the critical task of separating dry waste from wet waste.
Haku stood in the pig enclosure, singing softly to the animals. His voice was genuinely beautiful, melodic and soothing. The fat pigs lay sprawled on their sides, sleeping soundly, their snores mixing with Haku's gentle melody.
Seeing Zabuza hard at work, Naruto felt a sudden conviction. It's time to become friends with Zabuza properly.
He understood that it was difficult for a proud man like Zabuza to take the initiative in making friends. Their mentality was complicated. They might consider you a friend in their hearts, but because of pride and ego, they simply couldn't bring themselves to say it out loud.
Therefore, Naruto intended to take the initiative and resolve whatever internal conflict was preventing Zabuza from accepting their friendship. It would be good for everyone involved.
Haku noticed Naruto approaching and offered a small wave and smile before continuing his song. But his mind was elsewhere, thoughts churning with worry.
The last time he'd seen Zabuza with a bruised and swollen face, Haku had naturally assumed Zabuza had finally gone through the process and become Naruto's friend. But after some careful questioning, he'd discovered the truth: Zabuza still hadn't become Naruto's friend at all.
This worried Haku tremendously.
It had been so long now. Zabuza-sama seemed to be in no hurry whatsoever, which was completely unlike the man Haku knew. The Zabuza he knew always kept his promises. If Zabuza-sama said something would happen, it would definitely come true.
Yet he'd failed to fulfill his promise to become friends with Naruto.
After finishing his song, Haku checked that all the pigs were sleeping peacefully, then rose and made his way to where Zabuza was working. The former Mist ninja was shoveling pig manure with methodical efficiency, separating the dry from the wet with practiced movements.
"Zabuza-sama." Haku's voice was soft but insistent. "Do you remember what you told me that time?"
Zabuza didn't turn around, his hands continuing their work. "What?"
"You said you'd become friends with Naruto the next day. But now more than ten days have passed, and you still haven't done it." Haku's tone carried a hint of reproach. "Don't you want to return to Kirigakure anymore? Don't you want to overthrow Yagura's rule?"
The shovel in Zabuza's hands stopped moving. He stood motionless, silent.
He did want to return to Kirigakure. He desperately wanted to overthrow Yagura's brutal regime. But the thought of being beaten senseless by Naruto, of his face swelling up like a balloon... it was too much. His pride couldn't bear it.
So over the past ten days, Zabuza had been working diligently while secretly making trips back to Kirigakure. He'd sought out allies who also wanted to overthrow Yagura, trying to build a coalition.
But Terumi Mei-sama, the most powerful potential ally, didn't seem confident enough. She hadn't made up her mind to act yet.
The disappointment was crushing. Was he really going to have to become friends with Naruto after all?
"Zabuza-sama..." Haku's voice carried a pleading note.
Zabuza's shoulders slumped slightly. He opened his mouth, closed it, then finally sighed heavily. "Fine. I'll go talk to Naruto after I finish this work."
Hearing Zabuza's agreement, Haku's face brightened with a genuine smile.
"Haku, come over here!" Shikamaru's voice called from across the enclosure.
Haku gave Zabuza one more encouraging look, then lifted the hem of his practical work clothes and headed toward the farm director.
Zabuza continued shoveling manure, his movements mechanical, his thoughts dark.
Suddenly, footsteps approached from behind. Zabuza didn't turn around.
"Haku, I told you I'll do it myself."